Coolio treated a group of University students to a special performance of Gangsta's Paradise after he went back to their home following a gig and cooked them peach crumble.

The rapper, who has sold 17 million albums worldwide, was performing in Preston when he met the group of undergraduate students and decided to extend his stay.

He is said to have enjoyed a cosy night in with them back at their home, cooking a three course meal before performing Gangsta’s Paradise in their living room. The performance, where he encourages the group to join in on a jam session, was captured on camera and posted on YouTube.

Writing on website Reddit about the experience, one student said: “He was playing a gig in our city, and a few of my housemates were in the VIP after party. He came back to our house afterwards, and told us that he wasn't busy that night so would come over and cook us dinner. We had Coolio's Caprese Salad, Chicken á la Daaaamn, and Peach Crumble. We also videoed a cooking show ("Cookin' with Coolio").

“It was just as weird as it sounds.”

They claim they went to Tesco with the rapper to pick up ingredients and that he washed up afterwards as he is “very particular on hygiene.”

In the clip Coolio is seen encouraging the students to keep singing as well as a student playing the guitar to keep going, as he rapped Gangsta’s Paradise.

The students described the 1990s rapper as a “great guy” with “some really profound thoughts.”

Another wrote: “We decided to take a break from the cooking and have a jam session. Most surreal night of our lives! 4.15 is rapping at its best!”

His seemingly impromptu visit has been denounced as a publicity stunt by cynics after the five-minute clip went viral. It has attracted more than 760,000 views since it was uploaded on Wednesday night.

Coolio had been performing at Preston’s Ships and Giggles, before heading to MACs Bar in the town where he met the students.

While it may seem an unlikely path for a successful rapper, Coolio is also known for his love of cooking having released ‘Cookin with Coolio’ in 2009.